Spring mounting



C. A. TEA

SPRING MOUNTING Nov. 14, 1933.

Filed July 14, 1932 INVENTOR. G'LAR/f A. TEA.

:10 shimmy during fiexure of. the spring; and to proating an assemblyincluding my improved spring 15 the vsprung portion ofthe vehicle tomove relae r ng side of a vehicle chassis t the from Patentecl'Nov;14,1933. I I I I 1,:'i34,892 p k 7 SPRING MOUNTING" U I Clark A. Tea,Detroit, Mich, assignor to Chrysler Corporation, Detroit, Mich, acorporation of- Delaware 7 V ApplicationJuly 14,1932. Serial No. 622,4421 V "jisoiaims; (cr ase-124) This inventionlrela'tes tol'an improved p g-f b t n the ng .Side of a. vehicle Y mounting, particularlyv forvehicle front springs; chassis showing my improved spring mounting.

The main 'objects'o'f the invention are to pro- Fig. 2 is a f ragmentaryside ,eievational View .vide an improved mounting'for the end of the ofthe front end of the non-steering side of the 5 front axle on thesteering side of the. vehicle Chassis showingthe spring mounti th r 1"which permits forelan'd aft movement of the F1g. 3 .is anenlargedfragmentary side eleva- Springand'the latter end of mg l du i 1 tionalview partly in section, showingthe rear fiexure of the spring; 'toprovide a mounting of d t e Spring suspension somewhat indetail. thischaracter which eliminates wheel fight and a Plane View, j mm lyillusvide means for limiting rearward movement of the mmt ng and the frontaxle, wheels, and steering front spring onthe steering side of thevehicle apparatus-of the vehicle. 7 v so as to prevent the. turningofthe front wheels In the formsho'wnmy improved spring'mountwhich resultsin brake dive, by the tendency of 7 ing, .as. illustrated in Fig. 1, isprovidedon' the 0 tive to the unspru'ngportion thereof during brake. endthereof. V The" front sprin of the. applications. Steerlng d f thevehicle, illustrated in Fig.2,

" Other objects of the invention are to pro is attached to the frontaxle l1 and to the sidevide a spring mountingo'f this character in whichrail 12 on thefnon steering side of the chassi th weight of. the sprungportion of the vehicle in a conventional manner. The front endof the isutilizedv in yieldably opposing rearward move p ing 10 has an eye (notshownrby which it is ment of the, front spring of theisteering side of pvotally attached-at 13 to a bracketor downthe vehicle; to provideshackle connections b'e- .wardly protruding portion 14 on the front ehdof tween the.latter spring andthe sprung portion the. siderail .12. 'Theintermediate portionf .of the vehicle which are disposedin such amanthe:spring is rigidly; clamped by U-bolts 15 Q h '30 under the influence ofe we f the sprung ,pivotally secured-to the spring wand-bracket i7 .35from rotation of an unbalanced wheel journaled by U-bolts 22 The frontend of the spring is .45 character which is'adapted to break up thevivertical direction. Mounted on the bra I response to the action ofthe-unbalanced masses nected with -a, bracket 27 mounted on thesideFig.1 is a. fragmentary side elevational view 29 formed th may end ofthespring 195 nor as to -man'ually' urge the spring forwardlyv .toasprig seat 16 formed 'on. th from; axle under the influence of'th'e weightof the sprung TheIrear (indof'thg Spring 10 is pivotally cont portion;and to provide resilient means for. yield.- nectedto a bracketl'l whichextends downwardly ably opposing forward movement of the spring 'fromthe side r'ail.12 by a shackle l8 which i portion of the vehicle. 2 I atits t vely opposite ends.

Further objects of the inventionare to provide The spring .19 or thesteering side .of the vein a. spring mounting, means for shiftahly sup-'hicle is likewise,rigidlyattached at its intermediporting the'spring sothat-the forces-resulting ateportion' to a spring seat 20 onfthe. axle11 on the axle willmove the spring and theend providedwith'an eye tshown), by Whichjt of the axle attached thereto in addition to turnispivotally attached'tot he upper end ofnaishackle ing the. wheel aboutits king pin; to provide means 23. I The shackle -23 hasfits lower endpivotally for controlling the shifting of the axle under the mountediona downwardly extendinglbmcket 24 40 influence of the forces: resultingfrom rotation which protrudes from theiorward extremity of thereon ofanunbalan ced wheel so as to break the siderail 25 on th ste j ofmthechas up. the vibratory resonance of the. forces tendsis frametoaposition below the spring 19, 11 1 ing to aggravate-turning of the wheelaboutits shackle 23 normallygextends upwardly from th king pin; toprovide a spring mounting of this lower end of, the bracket 24 inasubstantially bratory resonance of the forces derived from the is aiyieldable s'top,26,,prefer b1y comprising re- SpringinesS in the chain.of parts which constisilientmateriaLsuch as rubbenwhichi engage? mm thesteering apparatus from increasing the able by the forward endofthe s i19 amplitude ofturning of the steering wheelsin h rear d fthe spring lQis pivota11 in suchwheels during high speed rotation'thereof ail 25 andextending downwardly to a position so as t 1iminate excessive highspeedshimmy. b 1o thespring 19, by a shackle 28 which h jtAnillustrative embodiment of my invention is lower i t u tt to vthebracket-1,27 shown inithe accompanying drawingin which: p and its upperend pivotally attached to an eye illustrated in Fig. 3. The shackle'28extends upwardly and rearwardly from the lower end of the bracket 27 atan inclination to a vertical plane.

.A yieldable stop 30, comprising resilient material, preferably rubber,mounted on thebracket 27, is engageable with the eye 29 of the spring 19and is normally spaced slightly therefrom, as illustrated'in Fig. 3.

My improved spring mounting may be employed to advantage in conjunctionwith steering apparatus of many kinds. For the purpose of illustration,a conventional steering apparatus is shown which includes a steeringcolumn 31, a pitman arm 32, and a drag link 33. The forward end of thedrag link is pivotally attached-to a steering arm 34 which is rigidlyconnected with the right hand front wheel 35. The wheel 35 and itsspindle are pivotally mounted on the front axle 11 by a king pin 36. Asimilar wheel37 and'its spindle are pivotally mounted on the left end ofthe axle 11 by a king pin 38, as viewed in'Fig. 4. The wheel 37 hasa'steering arm 39 which is pivotally connected with the steering arm 34of thewheel 35 bya tie rod 40. a v

In the operation of a vehicle having a spring mounting of theabovecharacter, the spring 19 on the steering side of the vehicle andthe end of the axle on the steering'side of the vehicle are free toshift fore and aft during compression and rebounding of the spring. Thisfreedom of fore and aft movement permits the pivotal connection of thedrag link 33 and steering arm 34 to travel. on the same arc, asillustrated at 41 in Fig. l,

without requiring turning of the wheel 35 about its king pin. In thismanner, wheel fight which occurs when the ends of the drag link andsteering arm tend to travel'on'd ifferent arcs, is eliminated.

The stop 30, which is spaced from the rear end of the spring 19, permitslimited movement of this spring and the end of the axle on the steeringside of the vehicle of sufdcientamplitude to prevent wheel fight. Thestop30, however, holds the spring 19 against excessive rearward movementand in so doing it prevents excessive relative movement of the frontwheel on the steering side of the vehicle with respect totheisprungportion of the latter. This limitation of the rearward movement ofthespring 19' during'brake applications prevents serious brake dive whichresults from the turning of the forward extremities of the wheels to theright, as viewed in-Fig. 4, when the front spring and wheel on thesteeringside of the vehicle shift rearwardly an'excessive amount. Boththe front and rear shackles, 23 and 28, respectively, are placed undertension insu'pporting the weight of the vehicle. The rearwardinclination of the rear shackle ,28 with res'pect to a vertical planecauses the weight of the sprung portion of the vehicle to urge thespring 19 forwardly against the stop 26. "Rearward movement of thespring 19, 'is'therefore opposed by the weight of the vehicle which isapplied on the rear end of the spring 19 in an inclined direction byreason of the inclination of the rear shackle 28. This influence of theweight of the sprung portion of the vehicle upon the spring 19 also aidsin holding the latter against excessive rear-e ward movement relative tothe chassis frame and in this way assists in preventing brake dive.

There is present in the chain of parts of the steering apparatus aconsiderable degree of springiness which is brought into play when thefront wheels are not accurately balanced and when they are rotated athigh speed. ;The forces 'tory resonance in the steering apparatus.

developed by rotation of unbalanced wheels at high speeds tend to turnthe front wheels about their king pins. Such movement of the wheels isresisted by the parts of the steering apparatus which yield somewhat dueto the springiness throughout the steering system. Frequently, avibratory resonance occurs which aggravates the turning of theuwheelsabout their king-pins in this manner during high speed operation of avehicle, causing what is known as high speed shimmy.

I V With my improved spring mounting the forces created by rotation ofan unbalanced wheel at high speed not only tend to turn the wheels abouttheir king pins but also tend to shift the end of the axle at thesteering side of the vehicle and the spring 19 longitudinally of thechassis frame.

By resiliently opposing movement of the spring 19 in one direction andemploying the weight of the vehicle to oppose movement of this spring inanother direction, a system. is provided which differs in its vibratoryaction from that of the steering system and which breaks up the vibra-In this manner excessive turning of unbalanced wheels about theirking'pins athigh speed operation of 'the vehicle and the high speedshimmy resulting therefrom is effectively guarded against.

Although but one specific embodiment of the invention is herein shownand'described, it will be understood that various changes in the size,

shape, and arrangement of parts maybe made without departingfrom thespirit of my inventiornand it is not my intention to limit its scopeother than by the terms of the appended claims. What I claimis: 1. In avehicle including. sprung and unsprung portions, a spring mounted on oneof said portions, meansfor shiftably connecting said spring to the otherof said portions including a pair of tensionshackles-having their lowerends pivotally conn'ectedwith said sprung portion and their upp r endspivotally attached to said spring, and means for holding one of saidshackles against turning in one direction of the length of said springfrom a'vertical position, the other shackle bei g inclined with respectto a vertical plane and adapted to urge said spring and said un- "sprungportion in said direction of the length of said spring;

2. In a vehicle including sprung and unsprung portions, a spring mountedon one of said portions, means for shiftably connectingsaid spring tothe other of said portions including a'pair of tension shackles havingtheir lower ends pivotally "connected with said sprung portion and theirupper ends pivotally attached to said spring, one

:of said shackles being inclined with respect to a vertical .plane'andadapted to urge said spring and said unsprung portion forwardly in thedi re'ction of the length of said spring, means for holding the'other'shackle against turning forwardly from a vertical" position, anda resili- V 7 {1,934,899 tnd iqwr' ends pivotally attached to said'spring and to said sprung portion respectively and'exto the other ofsaid portions including'a front.

shackle elementhaving its upper and lower ends pivotally attached-tosaid spring and-to said sprung portion respectively and normallydisposed in a substantially'vertical position and including arearshackle element" having its upper andlower endspivotally attached tosaid spring and to said sprung portion respectively and extendingrearwardly' from itslower end at an in clination to a vertical planeso-as to'urge; said spring and said unsprung portion forwardly under theinfluence" of the weightof said sprung-portion, and a resilientelementyieldably opposing forward movement of said spring whereby said springis resiliently held under compression longitudinally.

5. In a vehicle including sprung and unsprung I portions, a springmounted on one of said portions, means for shiftably connecting saidspring to the other of said. portions including a pair of tensionshackles having their lower ends pivotally connected with said sprungportion and their upper ends pivotally attached to said spring, one of 3said shackles being inclined with respect to a vertical plane andadapted to urge said spring and said unsprung portion inone direction ofthe length of saidspringand a yieldable stop normally slightly spacedfrom and engageable by 7 said springrfcr arresting movement ofsaidspring in an O posite direction after a predetermined movementthereof in the, latter direction 6. In a vehicle including sprung andunsprung portionsya spring mounted on one of said portions, meansforshiftably connecting said spring 7 tothe other of said portionsincluding a pair of V tension shackles having their lower ends pivotallyconnected with said sprung portion and their upper ends pivotallyattached-to said spring, one

of said shackles being. inclined with respect to a vertical plane andadapted to urge said spring and said unsprung portion in one directionof the length of said spring, a resilient member for yieldably opposingmovement of said spring in saiddirection, and a yieldable stopnormallyslightly spaced from and engageable by said posed in asubstantially vertical position and in-* cluding a rear shackle elementhaving its upper:

and lower ends pivotally attached to said spring and to said sprungportionrespectivelyand extending rearwardly from its lower endat aninclination to a vertical plane so as to urge said spring and saidunsprung portion forwardly and the adjacent end of said spring.

nder the influence ofthe'weight of said sprung" portion, aresilient-element yieldably opposing forward movement of said springwhereby said spring is resiliently held under compression 1ongitudinally; and a yieldable stop engageableby said spring. forarresting rearward movement thereof after a predeterminedmovement-thereof in a rearward direction. r

; In a vehicle-including a chassis frame and a front axle, a springhaving'its iintermediate portionmounted on said axle, means forconnecting the ends of said spring with said chassis frame includingbrackets on said chassis and including shackle links pivotally attachedto said brackets and to'the ends of said spring'a'nd extending,

downwardly from theends of said spring, one of said shacklelinks beingdisposed at an inclination of said chassis frame, and a rubber memberfor yieldably opposing movement of said spring in said directioninterposed between one of said brackets 9. In a vehicle including achassis frame'and a front axle, a spring having its intermediate portionmounted on said axle,,means for connecting the ends of said springWith'said chassis frame into a vertical plane and adapted to urge saidspring in one direction'under the infiuenc'e'of the weight cludingbrackets on said chassis and including shackle links pivotally attachedto said brackets and to the ends of said spring and extending downwardlyfrom the ends of said spring, one of its said shackle links beingdisposed at an inclination to a vertical plane and adapted to urge saidspring in one direction under the influence of the weight of saidchassis frame, a rubber member for yieldably. opposing movement of saidspring in said direction'interposed between one ofsaid brackets limitingmovement of said spring inv an opposite direction after a predeterminedmovement thereofin the latter direction, 10. In a vehicle, a chassisincluding a frame having steering apparatus on one side thereof andincluding a frontv axle, a main spring mounted onsaidfront'axle at thenon-steering side of said vehicle having one enddirectly pivoted thereonand itsother end pivotally connected thereto bya' shackle, a main springmounted on said axle at the steering side of said vehicle, means forshiftably connecting the latter spring to said frame including a. pairof tension shacklesvhaving their upper and lower ends pivotally attachedto the latter spring and to said frame respectively, one of'saidshackles being inclined with respect to a vertical plane and adapted tourge saidsecond mentioned main spring and the end o fsaid axle on thesteering side of said vehicle in one direction longitudinally of saidvehicle under the influence of the weight of the sprung portion thereof.

11. In a vehicle, a chassis including a frame having steering apparatuson one side thereof and including a front axle, a main spring mounted'onsaid frontaxle at the non-steering side of said vehicle having one enddirectly pivoted thereon and its other end pivotally connected theretoby a shackle, a main spring mounted on said axle at ably connecting thelatter spring to said frame including a pair of tension shackles havingtheir upper and lower ends pivotally attached to the 1 vertical planeand adapted to urge said second mentioned main spring and the end ofsaid axle on the steering side of said vehicle in one directionlongitudinally of said vehicle under the influence.

the steering side of said vehicle, means forshiftably connecting thelatter springto said frame including a pair oftensionshaekles havingtheir upper and lower ends pivotally attached to, the latterspring andto saidframe respectively, one of said shackles being inclined withrespect to a vertical plane and adapted to urge said second mentionedmain spring and the end ofsaid axle on the steering side of said vehiclein one direction longitudinally of said vehicle under the influence ofthe weight of the sprungportion thereof, a resilient element foryieldably opposing: such movement of said second mentioned springwhereby to resiliently hold the latter under compression longitudinally,and a yieldable stop engageable by said second mentioned main springforarresting movement thereof in an opposite direction after apredetermined movement thereof in the latter direction. I

13. In a vehicle, a chassis including a frame hav ing steeringapparatuson one side thereof and including a front axle, a main spring mounted onsaid front axle at the steering side of said vehicle, means forshiftably connecting said spring with said chassis frame including apair oftension shackles having their upper and lower ends pivotallyattached to said spring and to said chassis frame respectively, one ofsaid shackles being inclined rearwardly from its lower end with respectto a vertical plane and adapted to urge said spring forwardly under theinfluence of the weight of the,

sprung portion of said vehicle, and 'means vfo'r holding the othershackle against turningv under the influence of said rearwardly inclinedshackle.

CL TEA.

